Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby as of August 9, 2006 the Premier is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The islands are an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Turks and Caicos Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.The capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands is Cockburn Town on Grand Turk. The islands were under Jamaican jurisdiction until 1962, when they assumed the status of a crown colony. The governor of the Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. The islands adopted a constitution on August 30, 1976, which is Constitution Day, the national holiday. The constitution was suspended in 1986, but restored and revised March 5, 1988. The territory's legal system is based on English common law, with a small number of laws adopted from Jamaica and the Bahamas. Suffrage is universal for those over 18 years of age. English is the official language.The death penalty was fully abolished on the Islands in 2002 when it was removed as a penalty for piracy and treason. [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/cm5707,0.pdf]

Executive branch

Since the islands are a British territory, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the sovereign and technically, head of state; the British Crown is represented by a governor.

The head of government is the premier. The cabinet consists of three "ex officio" members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly.

No direct elections are held for the executive; the governor is officially appointed by the British monarch (in practice by the British Prime Minister). Legally, the premier is appointed to office by the governor - although under ordinary circumstances the premier will be (as are most parliamentary prime ministers) the head of the largest party in the House of Assembly.
Queen
Elizabeth II |
6 February 1952
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Governor
Richard Tauwhare|
11 July 2005
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Premier
Michael Misick
PNP
9 August 2006

Legislative branch

The Legislative Council has 19 members, 13 members elected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies, 3 members ex officio, 3 appointed members and a Speaker chosen from outside the council.

Political parties and elections

The latest elections were held on 9 February 2007. The result was a landslide victory for the Progressive National Party, which won 13 of the 15 seats in the House of Assembly.

Foreign relations

Turks and Caicos participates in the Caribbean Development Bank, is an associate in Caricom, and maintains an Interpol sub-bureau. Defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. In December 2004, the Turks and Caicos Islands sought to become a new associate member to the Association of Caribbean States [http://www.caribbeaninvestor.com/article.shtml?browser_query=varticle&field=3864 article] .

ee also

* Index of political parties to browse parties by name
* List of political parties to browse parties by country
* List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
* Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
* Electoral calendar
* Electoral system